One fx5 for 160 gal tank with 4 RBP

[Vdubers]

Hi I currently have a fx5 and small 16 gal max capacity sump set up for my 160 gallon piranha tank. I am thinking of getting rid of the sump. I did have 9 RBP but lost 5 over the course of a couple of years so wondering if I could now get rid of my sump?

It has a diy pvc overflow and it’s really annoying me tbh haha. No option to drill the tank or have HOB filters. I also did add some Neons for a bit of colour and the ps didn’t seem to bother them but they did end up in the sump and died. I have tried different things to stop them getting in there but with the lack of room to play with nothing seems to work. I’d like to add some more.

Would one FX5 be enough?
I could get another fx5 but is pricy.
Thanks

 

[Scruffy4]

I’d say as long as you’re doing weekly water changes 50% +, not leaving waste in the tank after feeding you may get away with just an fx5. you’ll be on the lower end of filtration for sure and missing a water change could possibly throw off your parameters. Keeping an eye on things will be very important for the first little while. Is there no way to put a filter over the intake of the sump so the tetras don’t find their way in? The Tank looks nice, I like it.

 

[Vdubers]

I’d say as long as you’re doing weekly water changes 50% +, not leaving waste in the tank after feeding you may get away with just an fx5. you’ll be on the lower end of filtration for sure and missing a water change could possibly throw off your parameters. Keeping an eye on things will be very important for the first little while. Is there no way to put a filter over the intake of the sump so the tetras don’t find their way in? The Tank looks nice, I like it.

thanks for your reply and comments on the tank. After reading your reply and some experimentation I've managed to extend the overflow out so I can add some teeth to hopefully stop any neons going in there when I get some. I think I will try and get some black pipe to make it look a bit nicer. The problem with my tank is it’s got a solid brace at the top around the rim which means I only have a small space around 3 inches wide to get all my outlet and inlet pipes etc. So when I tried adding teeth to my old overflow there wasn’t enough room to do it right and flow was reduced to much. I am hoping this will work ok. Will leave it running for a few days before picking up some neons.

Has anybody had much success with other fish with their RBP. I read through some old threads where the consensus seemed to be that it might work for a bit but eventually the ps will eat anything else. If the neons work ok I might look into some other smaller fish. My ps have never been live fed so I’m hoping that will help. Last time with the neons they lasted around two weeks before they all ended up in the sump.
Cheers

 

[Scruffy4]

Awesome I hope the teeth you added work out. As far as dither fish in the tank you pretty much answered your own question. It could be a matter of keeping your Ps full, sometimes it take minutes/hours/days/weeks for your ps to take make a meal out of them. I think everyone will have different results. I’m about to upgrade my manueli to a 180. I’ve already added 32 red cardinal tetras and 2 tiny BN plecos to the 180 in hopes they will have some sort of advantage when I add in the. manueli. I’m going to try to feed him daily hoping to distract him from a live snack. I’m sure I’m about to feed my manueli a steak dinner but I want to live out my dream and try it lol.

 

[Vdubers]

Awesome I hope the teeth you added work out. As far as dither fish in the tank you pretty much answered your own question. It could be a matter of keeping your Ps full, sometimes it take minutes/hours/days/weeks for your ps to take make a meal out of them. I think everyone will have different results. I’m about to upgrade my manueli to a 180. I’ve already added 32 red cardinal tetras and 2 tiny BN plecos to the 180 in hopes they will have some sort of advantage when I add in the. manueli. I’m going to try to feed him daily hoping to distract him from a live snack. I’m sure I’m about to feed my manueli a steak dinner but I want to live out my dream and try it lol.

thanks for your reply. How are the Manueli and cardinals getting on? I added 10 neon to the 4 RBP a week ago and I did lose two the first two days but now got 8 that seem to be doing ok. Cant tell if the two got eaten or sucked into the sump/filter tbh.
Thinking of trying some tiger barbs as I have heard they work out sometimes.

 

[Scruffy4]

The manny is still getting use to his new tank, still skittish at the moment. I’m not to worried though, when I was cleaning the glass with the mag float and he was attacking it non stop. It doesn’t seem like he has touched any of the cardinals. It’s not very easy to count 32 of them lol. I’ve been throwing in his usual piece of silver side at night in hopes to distract him from the cardinals. He has yet to eat... I think if the tetras have some cover/hiding spots they will definitely stand more of a chance.
tiger barbs grow larger than neons so I would imagine that eventually they would be on the menu. I feel like if the dither fish added are small enough P’s may not feel like they are food or worth the chase.

 

[Scruffy4]

Well he just ate some silver side. Hopefully as long as I keep him fed he doesn’t see the cardinals as a snack...

 

[nzafi]

A single fx5 should be enough. RBP tend to max out around 10in. It will ultimately come down to how much you feed, how much uneaten food, or gunk is in the tank. You would probably need a tighter schedule around cleaning the FX5. I would just monitor your ammonia levels if you remove the sump. You can also replace the sump with sponge filters if you wanted.